Seniors invited to talk about positive change

13th May 2019 3:24 PM

Your Voice Matters - Community Conversations to improve the lives of older Queenslanders

Our population is ageing, with more people living longer and healthier lives...so we need to build communities that support people to age well. Simply, when we create communities with older people at the centre, we create liveable communities for everyone.

For over 60 years, Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland has worked with older people to influence decision making and create positive social change. Promoting older people's rights and advocating to government on issues that affect us all as we age.

COTA is working to create an age-friendly Queensland with vibrant, healthy and equitable communities for all ages. To inform this work, it has been hosting a series of Community Conversations throughout Queensland to discuss what's working well and what can be improved, and how.

"Too often we have heard that people feel invisible and these conversations are aimed at giving people the space to tell us all about their communities and the opportunity to explore solutions to support them," COTA Queensland Chief Executive Mark Tucker-Evans said. "The information gathered will inform our broader work, advocating to government the issues and solutions at a localised level."

Each community is different and no one knows their community better than the people who live there.

"What I find most interesting is the participants' responses to needs within their communities and the innovative and practical solutions to their community needs," Communications Coordinator Lisa Hodgkinson said.

"From picking up their neighbours to go to town for a doctor's appointment, when no community transport is available or affordable, to the idea of Uber for Seniors, or accessing information to assist someone navigate the aged care system. Our communities are resilient and supportive."